Bull thistle

Bull thistle / common thistle is a large coarse spiny winter biennial. First year: grows into a flat rosette of leaves and it sends down a large taproot. Second year: sends up a cental stalk with "wings" running down the stalk from each side of each leaf. Branches are hairy, prickly leaves are hairy on the bottom and smooth on top. Reddish/purple flowers form at the ends of short prickly winged stems from June - October. Flower heads are 1-2" in diameter and surrounded with spiny bracts. Seeds are readily blown about like dandelion seeds.

Woodsorrel

Woodsorrel / oxalis most obvious during the cool season. Small bushy yellow-green plant grows from a central taproot. Stems are slender and sometimes root at the nodes. Blooms May - September. 1/2 inch yellow flowers, five petals. When dry, the pods break open suddenly if touched and throw the seed as far as 6 feet. Reproduces from stem pieces as well as from seed.